Chapter Description

In this excerpt from Adobe InDesign CC Classroom in a Book (2015 release), you'll learn how to work with layers, create and edit text frames and graphics frames, import graphics into graphics frames, import multiple graphics into a grid of frames, crop, move, and scale graphics, adjust the space between frames, add captions to graphics frames, place and link graphics frames, change the shape of frames, wrap text around an object, create complex frame shapes, convert frame shapes to other shapes, modify and align objects, select and modify multiple objects, and create a QR code.

From the Book

This excerpt references lesson files, which are available with the purchased book.

Lesson Overview

In this lesson, you’ll learn how to do the following:

Work with layers.

Create and edit text frames and graphics frames.

Import graphics into graphics frames.

Import multiple graphics into a grid of frames.

Crop, move, and scale graphics.

Adjust the space between frames.

Add captions to graphics frames.

Place and link graphics frames.

Change the shape of frames.

Wrap text around an object.

Create complex frame shapes.

Convert frame shapes to other shapes.

Modify and align objects.

Select and modify multiple objects.

Create a QR code.

This lesson will take approximately 90 minutes.

Download the project files for this lesson from the Lesson & Update Files tab on your Account page at www.peachpit.com and store them on your computer in a convenient location, as described in the “Getting Started” section at the beginning of this book.

Your Account page is also where you’ll find any updates to the chapters or to the lesson files. Look on the Lesson & Update Files tab to access the most current content.

InDesign frames can contain text, graphics, or color. As you work with frames, you’ll discover that Adobe InDesign provides you with a great amount of flexibility and control over your design.

Getting started

In this lesson, you’ll work on a pair of spreads that make up a four-page newsletter. You’ll add text and images and make several modifications to the objects on the two spreads.

To ensure that the preference and default settings of your Adobe InDesign program match those used in this lesson, move the InDesign Defaults file to a different folder following the procedure in “Saving and restoring the InDesign Defaults file” on page 3.

NOTE

If you have not already downloaded the project files for this lesson to your computer from your Account page, make sure to do so now. See “Getting Started” at the beginning of the book.

Start Adobe InDesign. To ensure that the panels and menu commands match those used in this lesson, choose Window > Workspace > [Advanced], and then choose Window > Workspace > Reset Advanced. To begin working, you’ll open an InDesign document that is already partially completed.

Choose File > Open, and open the 04_Start.indd file in the Lesson04 folder, located inside the Lessons folder within the InDesignCIB folder on your hard drive. (If the Missing Fonts dialog box displays, click Sync Fonts, and then click Close after the fonts have successfully synced from Typekit.)

NOTE

If an alert is displayed when you open the sample document, click Update Links.

Choose File > Save As, rename the file 04_Objects.indd, and save it in the Lesson04 folder.

To see what the finished document looks like, open the 04_End.indd file in the same folder. You can leave this document open to act as a guide as you work. When you’re ready to resume working on the lesson document, choose Window > 04_Objects.indd or click its tab at the top of the document window.

The newsletter that you will work on in this lesson contains two spreads: The spread on the left contains page 4 (the back page on the left) and page 1 (the cover on the right); the spread on the right contains pages 2 and 3 (the center spread). Keep this page arrangement in mind as you navigate from page to page. Here you see the finished newsletter.

NOTE

As you work through the lesson, move panels or change the zoom level to a magnification that works best for you.